Power Tool Blade Mount with Radial Fluid Flow Channels
A mount is disclosed for mounting a blade on a rotary spindle of a power tool. The spindle has an axial bore through which a cooling fluid may flow. The mount includes a disk configured for directing cooling fluid outward in a generally radial direction with respect to the axis of spindle when the blade is mounted face-to-face with an outer face of the disk. An adapter is also disclosed that can be used with a conventional blade mount for achieving the same result.
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The present invention generally relates to power tools and accessories and, more particularly, to a mechanism for cooling the blade of a rotary power tool during an operation on a work piece.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPower tools, such as grinders used in working stone, often use circular cutting saws which need to be cooled during a cutting operation. A typical grinder has a fluid inlet from which a cooling fluid (e.g., water) is directed through openings in the spindle of the tool in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle and saw blade. The saw blade is held on the spindle by a mount having a spindle opening which extends completely through the mount. During a normal flush cutting operation (i.e., an operation in which the blade is generally parallel to the face of the work piece), fluid flows through the spindle and mount down onto the work piece. However, if the tool is turned ninety degrees to perform a cut, water is directed away from the work piece instead of toward it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is directed to, among other things, a mount for mounting a blade on a spindle of a power tool for rotation of the blade about an axis to perform an operation on a work piece. The spindle has an axial bore through which a cooling fluid may flow. The mount comprises a body comprising a disk with a central axis generally coincident with the axis of rotation. The disk has an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge. A bore in the body is generally centered on the central axis of the disk. The bore has an open end for receiving the spindle of the power tool and a closed opposite end. At least one fastener opening in the outer face of the disk is spaced in a radial direction from the central axis for receiving a fastener to attach a blade in face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk. One or more grooves are provided in the outer face of the disk extending from a central region of the disk outwardly to the peripheral edge of the disk. Each groove has an open side adapted to be closed by the blade when the blade is in face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk. One or more flow passages connect the spindle-receiving bore in the body to respective one or more grooves for flow of cooling fluid along the grooves to the work piece when the blade is in face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk.
In another aspect, this invention is directed to an adapter for diverting axial fluid flow through the spindle of a power tool to fluid flow in a generally radial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of a blade on the spindle. The adapter comprises a disk having an inner face, an outer face, a peripheral edge, and a central axis. Fastener openings extend through the disk from its outer face to its inner face for receiving fasteners to attach the disk to a blade mount on the spindle of the power tool such that the inner face of the disk is in face-to-face relation with a blade positioned between the blade mount and the disk. One or more grooves in the inner face of the disk extend from a central region of the disk outward to the peripheral edge of the disk. Each groove has an open side adapted to be closed by the blade when the blade is in face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk whereby cooling fluid flowing axially through bores in the spindle and blade mount is diverted by the disk for flow along the grooves to the work piece.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAs illustrated in
The mount 40 functions to mount the blade 34 on the spindle 14 of the power tool 10 in an orientation in which the plane of the blade is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation 16. As illustrated, the mount 40 comprises a one-piece body 60 of suitable material, e.g., a metal such as brass. However, the body 60 can be made of separate pieces rigidly affixed to one another.
The body 60 comprises a relatively flat, circular disk 64 having an outer face 66, an inner face 68, and a peripheral edge 70. The outer face 66 has a raised center region forming a boss 72. The boss 72 is sized and shaped to fit a central opening 74 in the blade 34, as will be described later. As used herein, the term “disk” is not intended to limit the perimeter shape of the member to a circular shape. The disk can have a peripheral edge having other shapes (e.g., square) without departing from the scope of this invention.
In the illustrated embodiment (
The bore 80 through the hub 76 has an open inner end for receiving the spindle 14 of the power tool 10 and a closed outer end. In the illustrated embodiment (see
The blade 34 has a number of clearance holes 90 through it spaced around the center axis of the blade and the central opening 74 of the blade. The disk 66 has a corresponding number of fastener openings 94 for receiving a corresponding number of fasteners 98 to attach the blade to the disk (see
Referring to
Referring to
In use, the spindle 14 of the power tool 10 is threaded into the spindle-receiving bore 80 in the mount 40 such that the orifices 50 in the end of the nozzle 52 are in fluid communication with the bore and the flow passages 120 leading to the grooves 100 (see
The mount 204 is generally of conventional design. It comprises a flat circular member 240, a generally cylindrical hub 244 extending from the member, and threaded axial bore 250 extending completely through the hub and circular member for receiving the threaded shaft of the spindle 210 (see
The adapter 220 comprises a flat disk 280 having an inner face 282, an outer face 284, a peripheral edge 288, and a central axis 290 which is generally co-axial with the axis of rotation 216 when the adapter is in use. Fastener openings 292 extend through the disk 280 from its outer face 284 to its inner face 282 for receiving the fasteners 270 to attach the disk to the blade mount 204 such that the inner face 282 of the disk is in face-to-face relation with the outer surface of the blade 208 positioned (sandwiched) between the blade mount 204 and the disk 280.
Referring to
As viewed in a cross section taken transverse to its length, each groove 300 is generally U-shaped to have a bottom wall 314, opposite side walls 318 extending from the bottom wall, and an open side 320 (
In use, the spindle 210 of the power tool 214 is threaded into the spindle-receiving bore 80 in the mount 204. The adapter 220 and blade 208 are fastened to the mount 204 using the fasteners 270 so that the blade positioned between the adapter and the mount with one face of the blade in direct face-to-face contact with the mount and the opposite face of the blade in direct face-to-face contact with the inner face 282 of the disk 280. In this position, the flat outer face of the blade 208 closes and substantially seals the open sides 320 of the grooves 300. As a result, when the power tool 214 is turned on to rotate the spindle 210, and fluid is delivered to the supply line 234, fluid flows through the spindle 210 and through the axial opening 250 of the mount 204. From there, fluid is diverted by the closed central region 310 of the disk 280 to flow in generally radial directions through the grooves 300 outward to the peripheral edge 288 of the disk for cooling the blade during an operation on a work piece. As a result, the power tool can be used to perform operations in which the tool is rotated ninety degrees to the work piece.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A mount for mounting a blade on a spindle of a power tool for rotation of the blade about an axis to perform an operation on a work piece, said spindle having an axial bore through which a cooling fluid may flow, said mount comprising
- a body comprising a disk with a central axis generally coincident with said axis of rotation, said disk having an inner face, an outer face, and a peripheral edge,
- a bore in the body generally centered on the central axis of the disk, said bore having an open end for receiving the spindle of the power tool and a closed opposite end,
- at least one fastener opening in the outer face of the disk spaced in a radial direction from said central axis for receiving a fastener to attach a blade in face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk,
- one or more grooves in the outer face of the disk extending from a central region of the disk outwardly to the peripheral edge of the disk, each groove having an open side adapted to be closed by the blade when the blade is in said face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk, and
- one or more flow passages connecting the spindle-receiving bore in the body to respective one or more grooves for flow of cooling fluid along the grooves to the work piece when the blade is in said face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk.
2. The mount set forth in claim 1, comprising a plurality of said grooves extending generally with respect to said central axis of the disk at substantially equal intervals around the axis.
3. The mount set forth in claim 2, comprising four grooves spaced at intervals of about 90 degrees around the central axis.
4. The mount set forth in claim 3, wherein each flow passage extends at about a 45 degree angle from the spindle-receiving bore to a respective groove.
5. The mount set forth in claim 3, wherein there are two fastener openings between each pair of adjacent grooves.
6. The mount set forth in claim 1, wherein the spindle-receiving bore extends into the disk and stops short of the outer face of the disk.
7. The mount set forth in claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a hub extending from the inner face of the disk, said spindle-receiving bore extending through the hub into the disk and being threaded for threaded engagement with the spindle of the power tool.
8. The mount set forth in claim 1, wherein said disk and hub are integrally formed as one piece.
9. The mount set forth in claim 1, in combination with a thin, substantially planar blade.
10. The mount set forth in claim 1, in combination with said power tool and a thin, substantially planar blade mounted on said cutting tool by said mount.
11. An adapter for diverting axial fluid flow through a spindle of a power tool to fluid flow in a generally radial direction with respect to an axis of rotation of a blade on the spindle, said adapter comprising
- a disk having an inner face, an outer face, a peripheral edge, and a central axis,
- fastener openings extending through the disk from the outer face to the inner face for receiving fasteners to attach the disk to a blade mount on the spindle of the power tool such that the inner face of the disk is in face-to-face relation with a blade positioned between the blade mount and the disk, and
- one or more grooves in the inner face of the disk extending from a central region of the disk outwardly to the peripheral edge of the disk, each groove having an open side adapted to be closed by the blade when the blade is in said face-to-face relation with the outer face of the disk whereby cooling fluid flowing axially through bores in the spindle and blade mount is diverted by the disk for flow along the grooves to the work piece.
12. The adapter set forth in claim 11, wherein said central region of the disk is free of fluid-flow apertures extending axially completely through the disk.
13. The adapter set forth in claim 12, comprising a plurality of said grooves in fluid communication with one another in the central region of the disk.
14. The adapter set forth in claim 13, comprising four grooves spaced at intervals of about 90 degrees around the central axis of the disk.
15. The adapter set forth in claim 14, wherein there is one fastener opening between each pair of adjacent grooves.
16. The adapter set forth in claim 11, in combination with said power tool and a thin, substantially planar blade mounted on the power tool by said blade mount.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 9, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2011
Applicant: GRAN QUARTZ TRADING, INC. (Tucker, GA)
Inventors: Matthew A. Smith (Richmond, ME), James E. Haege (Jasper, GA)
Application Number: 12/757,422
International Classification: B24B 55/02 (20060101); B24B 45/00 (20060101);